JUNIOR RUGBY BEGINS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1934, Page 8

JUNIOR RUGBY BEGINS

CENTRAL DIVISION CONTESTS. COLD, WET, WINTRY WEATHER. The central division junior Rugby competitions commenced yesterday under typical football conditions. Fields were heavy after five days rain and a cold southerly wind made conditions uncomfortable. Results are:— First Junior. Inglewood 11 v. Stratford 6. Pukengahu 3 v. Old Boys 3. Tariki 3 v. Toko 0. Midhirst 18 v. Eltham 5. Third Grade. Stratford 16 v. School 11. Cardiff 9 v. Inglewood 3. Fourth Grade. School 14 v. Toko 0. Stratford 18 v. Inglewood 3. WIN FOR INGLEWOOD. INTEREST IN’STRATFORD GAME. Superiority during the first half gave Inglewood a win by 11 points to 6 over Stratford at Stratford. The visiting backs were considerably better than Stratford’s, but during the second spell the Stratford pack played a great game and needed only good support from the backs to have cut out Inglewood’s margin. The teams were:— Stratford: Burgess; Madgwick, Harper, Rosewame; Willetts, Berg; Foley; Paynter, Rogers, Vivian, Schwieters, Fastier, See, Latham, Nelson. Inglewood: Kay; . Trigger, Bradley, Ebbetts; Allan, Simpson; Ladbrook; Mackinder, Reeve, Brown, Urwin, Taylor, Burgess, Drake. Inglewood set out with the idea of using the backs as an attacking force, and it was evident that the policy had only to be pursued to attain results. Stratford’s backs, weak on attack through poor handling and wrong positional play, nevertheless tackled well, and Inglewood’s flrat try came as a result of Burgess’ misjudgment. Burgess failed to intercept where he could have done, letting the winger, Ebbetts,’ gain possession and run over. The kick failed. Five minutes later a similar attack brought Ebbetts to within a yard of the line, where he passed to Allan, who touched down. The ball went wide. Stratford’s first score came from a penalty kick by Nelson. A cross-kick in front of the Stratford goal was snapped up by Ebbetts, who scored as he was tackled. Allan converted. Stratford scored after a scramble by the posts, Berg pushing through. The kick missed. The game was in Stratford’s hands during the final stages. Mr. A. W. White refereed. TARIKI’S GOOD START. TOKO TEAM SUFFERS DEFEAT. Tariki started the season in an auspicious manner by defeating Toko, which fielded thirteen men, by three points to nil i- a rather straggly and uninspiring match at Tariki. A strong wind blowing diagonally across the field did nothing to assist back play and proved of little assistance to the forwards even when playing with it. Both teams played better football when fighting into the wind. Tariki’s score came when the ball had been worked by consistent effort into Toko’s territory, where Rumball suddenly secured possession and shot over the line. This was fairly early in the game and undoubtedly heartened the Tariki men to resist Toko’s efforts. Towards the end of the spell Sangster had a chance to even the score with an easy place kick. Although playing into the wind Toko had the better of the second spell, and in the concluding stages displayed a good deal of enterprise in opening up the game. Sangster made a fine effort to win the game with a drop kick, but a splendid attempt just missed. Perhaps Corlett and Wells were the best of the Tariki pack, while Duncan at half and Rumball at full-back also merited the applause they received. Toko was not like the Toko of two years ago, or even of last year. The forwards were disappointing but the backs showed promise of better play to come. Jones, the full-back, was a tower of strength to his team. PUKENGAHU AND OLD BOYS DRAW. EVEN GAME IN WINDY WEATHER. United Old Boys and Pukengahu met at Pukengahu with teams reorganised from last year. A wind blew diagonally and gave Old Boys the advantage in the first spell, which was scoreless and rather tame, but the second spell saw both teams fighting hard to score a try each, a 3-all draw being the result. Old Boys have McCready and McCluggage of last year’s backs to build a | team on, and the forwards are mostly young and inclined to be light. There was little sting in the forwards ’in the first spell and the backs broke down repeatedly. The second half found Old Boys up against it and the forwards' battled hard against a heavier Pukengahu pack of good stamp, which only bustled through once in revenge for a perfect try from a passing rush by Old Boys. Pukengahu has a strong team with Phillips, W. Lash and L. Lash in the backs and a heavy team of forwards. For Old Boys McCready was the best back on attack, although his early passes

were bad, while Wilmshurst, Irving and Calcott were good on defence. Bonner and Lonsdale were the best forwards. The teams were:— Pukengahu: Parish; Blackstock, L. Lash, Taylor; J. Phillips, W. Lash; J. Harris; Mulford, T. Death, E. Hunt, J. Murphy, J. Walsh, S. Bulmer, R. Thompson, Crighton. Old Boys: K. Elgar; E. Irving, S. Calcott, W. Hooper; I. McCready, J. Wilmshurst; T. McCluggage; L. Bonner, C. Thomson, R. Clayton, Salisbury, Lonsdale, Richardson, Cannon, Eagar. The best movement of the day originated from a scrum at half-way in the second spell. McCluggage sent his backs away on the run, Wilmshurst, McCready, Elgar and Irving all handling for McCready to come round on the outsiue of Irving to have a clean run in and score near the corner. Richardson missed with the kick. From the kick off Pukengahu bustled play to Old Boys’ line and from strenuous scrumming by the goal posts Murphy scored. Phillips missed with the kick. Mr. J. Robson refereed. MIDHIRST BEATS ELTHAM. WIN WELL DESERVED. Midhirst was much too good for Eltham and won by 18 points to 5 at Eltham. The Eltham forwards opened well but their work was not sustained and their efforts were scraggy. When the Midhirst men warmed up their handling wafit good and the backs made many fine dashes. Eltham back work was weaker but Walker was fairly safe at full-back. Midhirst’s score was made up of two penalty goals by Ludlam, who also played a good game as full-back, two tries by Harkness, and one each by Cookson and Boniface. Eltham’s score was made by Morgan, Brennan converting. From the outset Midhirat was superior and only on a few occasions was Eltham in a likely position. The first score was Ludlam’s penalty kick, then Cookson scored but Ludlam was unable to convert. From a difficult angle Ludlam added another penalty goal. Midhirst rattled to the line to add another score, a try by Harkness, but Ludlam’s kick failed. The visiting backs made a splendid rush in the second spell but were unlucky to lose on the line by a knockon. However, Harkness came up and scored a good try, Ludlam’s kick again failing. An Eltham attack was continued as a loose scrummage and Midhirat was pushed back over the line, enabling Morgan to ground. Brennan added a goal. After a splendid dashing run anH excellent combination Boniface scored, but Ludlam missed the kick. Mr. A. O’Sullivan refereed. GENERAL ITEMS. Junior Men’s Hockey. School defeated the Stratford junior men’s hockey team at Victoria Park yesterday by nine goals to one. Eltham Ladies’ Golf. Mrs. H. Wills was the winner of a flag match played by the Eltham Ladies’ Golf Club. Her score was 85—12—73. Mrs. L. Quin was runner-up with 89— 16—73. Both have reduced tl.:ir handicaps. Other cards were: Mrs. A. A. Stewart 98—20—78, Mrs. D. R. Fisher 102—23—79, Mrs. A. Chrystal 108—27—81. Eltham Oddfellows’ Euchre. The prizewinners at the Eltham Oddfellows’ euchre party were C. Martin 1, E. Scown 2, W. Crozier 3; Miss K. Wolfe 1, Mrs. Corbett 2, Mrs. Morris 3.‘ Huiroa Personals. Mrs. H. R. Wickham is spending holidays at Auckland. Mrs. G. Ritchie and daughter Daphne have returned home from holidays. Mr. Dug and Miss Tui Fraser have returned home from Auckland. Abbott Gold Fems. L. Gibson (4) and H. Casey (6) retained the Abbott Ferns against a challenge by L. Qqin (2) and J. Morton (8) on the Eltham golf links yesterday. The holders won two and one. The next challenge is from H. P. Dale and J. Stewart. St. Joseph's Church Prizes.

Prizes have been won in competitions held by the ladies of the St Joseph’s Church, Eltham, as follows: Cake, A. Ware; ham, W. ,D. Butler; hand-painted table scarf, Miss C. Walsh.

Living on £5 a Month. “Judgment debtor is living on his farm simply by the sufferance of his mortgagee, who allows him only £5 a month on which to live,” remarked a solicitor at the Eltham. Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in a judgment summons case. “How the unfortunate man manages to live I do not know,” he added. “I am instructed to appear for the judgment creditor, but under the circumstances I don’t think I can ask for an order. The man has six children, five of- whom are dependant upon him.” The Magistrate: “Very well, no order asked for, none granted.”

Visit to Casein Works. Several of the directors of the Eltham Dairy Company visited the casein factory at Aramoho yesterday.' ELTHAM COURT JUDGMENTS. UNDEFENDED DEBT CLAIMS. Judgment by default was given by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., at the Eltham I Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, in the | following claims: Eltham Motors Ltd. v. I R. L. Curd, £9 3s Id (£1 11s costs); J. Taylor and Co. Ltd. v. J. W. Toyn, £94 (£6 Is 6d). PLAY READING SOCIAL. CENTRAL TARANAKI GROUP. Members of the Central Taranaki Group of the British Drama League with their friends were entertained by the group last mght at a social evening during which three plays were read, items were given and a dance was held. Those taking part in the play reading

were Mrs. E. W. McCullough, Misses M. Curd, A. Uniacke and Z. Masters (“The Smoke Screen”); Mesdames E. H. Young

and Huffey and Miss R. Furrie (“Granny’s Juliet”); Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hall, Miss M. Wilson, Messrs. Von

Sturmer jun., W. J. Sheppard, D. Benjamin and S. Hayton. Supper was followed by dancinff.